๐ญ๐ฐ
Essential apps for
Hong Kong
้ฆๆธฏ
Cantonese & EnglishHKD5 apps
Hong Kong has English everywhere, so language isn't a barrier. The one app you must get is Octopus โ the contactless card for transit, convenience stores, and small shops.
๐
Power & Plug
TypeG
Voltage220V
Freq50Hz
British-style three-pin plug.
๐ฌ
Basic phrases
Cantonese
- Helloไฝ ๅฅฝnei5 hou2
- Thank youๅ่ฉฒm4 goi1
- Excuse me / Sorryๅฐๅไฝdeoi3 m4 zyu6
- Yesไฟhai6
- Noๅไฟm4 hai6
+10 more below
๐
Tipping
Tipping is not deeply ingrained; most restaurants add a 10% service charge, and many diners leave the small change or round up. For taxis, rounding up to the nearest dollar is enough.
๐Rideshare & Taxi
See all โ๐บ๏ธNavigation & Maps
See all โ๐ฑFood Delivery
See all โ๐Public Transit
See all โโ๏ธTravel Planning
See all โPhrases
All Cantonese phrases
Hello
ไฝ ๅฅฝ
nei5 hou2
Thank you
ๅ่ฉฒ
m4 goi1
Excuse me / Sorry
ๅฐๅไฝ
deoi3 m4 zyu6
Yes
ไฟ
hai6
No
ๅไฟ
m4 hai6
Please
ๅ่ฉฒ
m4 goi1
Goodbye
ๆๆ
baai1 baai3
How much?
ๅนพๅค้ข๏ผ
gei2 do1 cin2
Where is the bathroom?
ๅปๆๅบ้ๅบฆ๏ผ
ci3 so2 hai2 bin1 dou6
The check, please
ๅ่ฉฒ๏ผๅๅฎ
m4 goi1, maai4 daan1
I don't understand
ๆๅๆ
ngo5 m4 ming4
Do you speak English?
ไฝ ่ญๅ่ญ่ฌ่ฑๆ๏ผ
nei5 sik1 m4 sik1 gong2 jing1 man4
Help!
ๆๅฝ๏ผ
gau3 meng6
Delicious
ๅฅฝ้ฃ
hou2 sik6
Cheers
้ฃฒๆฏ
jam2 bui1
Briefing
What to know before you go
โ Do
- Use both hands when giving or receiving a business card and take a moment to read it
- Queue patiently for the MTR, buses, and taxis; line-jumping is frowned upon
- Hold chopsticks properly and never stick them upright in a bowl of rice
- Let the host or eldest person begin eating first at a shared meal
- Tap your two fingers lightly on the table to thank someone pouring your tea
- Keep your voice down and give up priority seats on public transport
โDon't
- Don't discuss sensitive political topics loudly in public
- Don't point with a single finger or beckon with your palm up
- Don't give clocks as gifts, as they symbolize death and endings
- Don't eat or drink on MTR trains, where it is prohibited and fineable
โ ๏ธ Common scams to know
- Tailor and 'custom suit' shops in tourist areas using high-pressure sales and poor-quality fabric
- Inflated 'tourist menus' or unmarked prices at some Tsim Sha Tsui restaurants and bars
- Fake or overpriced electronics in non-chain shops along Nathan Road
- Taxi drivers taking longer routes or claiming the meter is broken
Going elsewhere?
More destination guides
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